Maintenance & Repairs - January 2007

We are having a problem with sewage overflow during any heavy rain falls, or when solid precipitation melts to quickly. The city installed a back water valve to help; however, it is located in whole that's four feet below our basement floor. To make matters worse the whole is always full of at least 3 feet of water. (Just enough for my kids to fall in and drown. --Just so you don't think I'm completely dumb the whole is cover with a heavy sewer lid.)

My question is how are we to clean this valve of debris when it's under water? I've come up with no solutions to that question and we've been flooded twice since it was installed. Since it's not doing us any good I really just want to fill the whole up with rock and pave over it. (Thus making it safer for my kids.) Is that a wise thing to do? Should I have the valve removed first? Or is there a way to keep this whole free of ground water so I can maintain the valve?

2007-01-17 16:38:23 · 6 answers · asked by Stacy L 3

was told by a contractor that in order to heat the bottom floor we need to close the vents on all the rooms upstairs, this way the bottom gets warm and rises to the top,

Is this true or is the heating system not working properly

2007-01-17 16:31:18 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have a dishdisposal I need to uninstall, since I am having a new counter top put in, but I don' want to pay for a plummer. Anyone can help me?

2007-01-17 15:47:32 · 4 answers · asked by frosch121 1

2007-01-17 15:31:39 · 4 answers · asked by Sonny Burnett 1

My husband sprayed this stuff in our kitchen faucet to see if it would take the high pitched squealing sound away when we turned the cold water on. I just wanted to know if there is a chance that this chemical WD-40 is going to get in our drinking water now, or if it will just evaporate away. It turned out we just needed to tighten the aeriator.

2007-01-17 15:03:35 · 6 answers · asked by purple_rose131 2

I have a system of smoke detectors throughout my house - one detector per room. They seem to be all sync'd with one another. Every 45 seconds to 2 minutes, the detector downstairs will beep one time. I reset them once (or thought I did anyway) but it still beeps. Why is this?

2007-01-17 15:01:53 · 15 answers · asked by Chris D 2

2007-01-17 14:50:42 · 1 answers · asked by greybluehoney 2

The area in and around my dryer is freezing cold, no doubt due to the cold air outside coming in through the dryer vent. I found that Lowe's carries a louvered cover that can be used to help keep the vent covered when the dryer is not in use, but it would not fit where my dryer vent comes outside...the cover fit over a round tube, but the outside of my vent has a rectangular shield over it. Any suggestions would be appreciated, as they could help me keep my home warm and cut heating costs. Thanks!

2007-01-17 14:27:36 · 8 answers · asked by dallas 4

There is 1 1/2 inch PVC as a breather for my upstairs bathroom. It is on the outside wall and when it is cold outside and the hot water is turned on we can hear a dripping sound in the wall. I hve replaced all of the piping and there is no leak but it still makes that noise. what can I do to stop the noise??

2007-01-17 14:22:02 · 2 answers · asked by Michael G 1

when I opened the basement door a bunch or steam or smoke came rolling out and there was a bunch of water on the floor and a weird noise coming from the water heater-I shut the water supply off to the WH and sucked up the water and checked it out- well the pressure valve (?) on top of WH is where water came from- I waited for about 45 minutes and then turned water back on and the noise had quit by this time, I left when I came back there was a bunch more water on the floor and it looks like water is leaking from a pipe connected to the WH anybody got ANY IDEAS on what in the F*** I can do just so I don't flood the basement and still be able to use water???? Please?????

2007-01-17 13:37:43 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-17 13:34:02 · 4 answers · asked by bearmuscle13 1

2007-01-17 13:10:37 · 5 answers · asked by Elaine L 1

2007-01-17 12:16:04 · 0 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-17 12:16:03 · 12 answers · asked by plantfanatic 2

I have a very open great room kitchen and hall way with 12 foot ceilings and wonder if they will help heat a large area.

2007-01-17 12:14:15 · 2 answers · asked by honeygirl635 1

How do you unclog a dishwasher drain and how would I get to it?

2007-01-17 12:06:59 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-17 11:39:26 · 4 answers · asked by booger 1

when the electricticy goes out. I live in an area that recently experiences an ice storm and we were without power for about a week. I want to get a generator that will deliver enough power to keep my furnace, major appliances and a few lights, etc. working. My question is, how is this generator hooked up to the furnace and other items? Run into fuse box. junction box? Does it come with extension cord/s? How is it hooked up...installed? Thank You

2007-01-17 11:37:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

We had a fluorescent lightbulb in our young daughter's room. GE brand, 15 watt. It was placed in the ceiling light fixture about a year ago with just a standard square glass covering over it, (not completely enclosed). The light started flashing on and off by itself so my husband turned off the light at the switch. Several minutes went by and then we could smell that "electrical/plastic" fire smell. We frantically located the source and found that the bulb apparently had been on fire as scorch marks are coming out of the inside of the casing that holds the lightbulb threads in place. (Scorch marks from within the lightbulb itself) We have never heard of problems with these types of bulbs and have actually heard of only positive things such as with energy savings. Is this a common problem with the bulbs or a potential problem with the light fixture? I'm afraid to use her light without getting it checked into first.

2007-01-17 10:58:04 · 9 answers · asked by sadfam 2

We have four sets of sliding glass doors- ALL of which, are fogged in-between the double-panes. Rather than rip out the entire doors, it certainly SEEMS like there should be a way to simply remove the glass from the "C" shaped aluminum frame and replace it with another glass assembly. I've removed the entire glass 'sandwich' from the frame before- so I know it's possible... but no one locally seems to know who could provide the replacement assembly. And, of course, I have absolutely NO idea of the doors' original manufacturer. Ideas/suggestions anyone?

2007-01-17 10:54:43 · 8 answers · asked by johnny121 6

it only covers 2 corners of 2 walls and this happens everytime rains. i Dont know who to tell first , insurance, condo association or get someone to knock down walls and redo. i need some advice please!

2007-01-17 10:46:50 · 3 answers · asked by CHICANALAW 2

id like to know if anyone knows or knows of a website that will tell me if kerosene heaters are legal for in home use, with proper ventilation, and safety in wisconsin.

2007-01-17 10:36:42 · 2 answers · asked by mommyof5 2

You can't use nail polish so I was wondering what you could do.

2007-01-17 10:22:27 · 5 answers · asked by Music 2

the cold is running as I cracked the valve last night, but due to a hard freeze,and my own oversight, the hot lines are frozen. Money is an issue as I am unemployed.

2007-01-17 10:15:50 · 11 answers · asked by mike w 4

2007-01-17 10:12:53 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-17 09:45:19 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous

Modern houses seem to have cardboard walls, Is Cavity Wall insulation an effective way of reducing neighbour noise or are the benefits minimal

2007-01-17 09:38:37 · 9 answers · asked by yomper 1

It has gone off 3 times this week. Should I be worried? It has been 3 hours since the garage was open.

2007-01-17 09:29:19 · 14 answers · asked by Angel 2

2007-01-17 09:10:05 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

i am useing a steam cleaner

2007-01-17 08:53:28 · 5 answers · asked by imsotayken 2